Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

openl Shall ever forget the thrill Of utter
happiness 1 experienced as gazed upon that
treeP 1t was Lit by tiny cans of grease, hung
from the branches, in each of which fioated
a burning sycamore ball and was fairly
laden with home-wrought gifts. Captain
Moore had exercised his ingenuity in the
carving of several little jointed wooden dolls
with hickory-nut heads, some with hair
made with black woolly furniture stuffing
and faces stained black which were dressed
a la Dindh, while others had hempen hair
of untwirled rope, and were dressed in swad-
ding clothes to represent infant dolls.
There were little feather chairs in
every imaginable style, as light, pretty
and fragile as if made for a fairy
throne. There were homemade jumping
jacks of wondrous agility, stained red and
blue with pokeberry and wild indigo. There
were killed Rob Roys, who, when the first
two fingers of the right hand were inserted
into their dangling boots, and then set dane
ing, looked for all the world like veritable
bare-kneed Highlanderss There were little
barken-backed wallpaper books, beautifully
illustrated by Mrs. Van Dorm. There were
knit stockings from Nanny, and three little
pairs of bombazine CATERS made for her
three nieces by Aunt Lorraine. And. oh,
Joy marked For Jeanie' there was the
loveliest and largest rag-doll my childish
eyes had ever beheld, the artistic work of
my dear invalid mother. There were also
chestnuts, chinauapins, oranges, and candy
made of honey for the little ones. Nor were
the older people forgotten. Capt. Moore was
quite laden with the socks, scarfs, and visors,
knit for him by the ladies, and he also re-
ceived linen handkerchief, made from
some treasured ante-war materials, hem
stitched and embroidered by Aunt Lorraine,
as we'll as a pair of embroidered suspenders
from Miss Allie Tyrrell.
Miss Allie and Aunt Lorraine received each
a feather fan, the exquisite workmanship of
Mrs. Van Dorm, Aunt Loraine's present to
whom was palmetto hat, which she her
self had braided, dyed brown with tan bark
of black walnut and trimmed with bands of
brown chicken feathers. Captain Moore's
gifts to the ladies were rings carved from
black buttons and inlaid with silver and
pearl, which he had made during the lonely
hours of an imprisonment on Johnson's
Island, the silver having been obtained from
coin, and the pearl from mussel shell found
on the beach. Aunt Lorraine had embroid-
cred for my mother beautiful set of collar
and cuffs, made from the same treasured bit
of linen as the captains handkerchief. And
Nanny had been remembered by her in
two snowy white linen aprons, the flax of
which Aunt Lorraine had cultivated, spun
and woven herself. Her gift TO Miss Allie
was crochet lace made from the same linen
thread. During many months her fingers
had been busily occupied with remem-
brances for this Christmas season, and why
her courage and interest had failed at the
last Nanny and l, who loved her so well,
alone could divine.
But six o'clock quickly came and dinner
was announced. During its course we were
again startled by a report of the advance of
the enemy, but as we had a trusty servant
stationed near the principal road leading to
the village, and he had given us no warning,
our fears were soon allayed At seven quite
large audience had collected in the front par
lor to witness the amateur entertainment,
which soon after began to glide smoothly
forward.
While Mrs. Van Dorm was playing solo
slipped quickly into the hall where, in cor
ner, Isaw Nanny andAunt Lorraine standing.
You is to be de bride, Miss Lorraine"
Nanny was saying with decision as joined
her; dat POI sick infidel, Miss Fidelia needs
you upstairs, an you is to go up dar an stay
as long as you kin, which will be ontwel
de orange blossom ack; but 1 will call